Compare towns
Madison vs Putney vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Madison | Putney | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
2,622 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.